Likelihood of haze low as rain is expected over Sumatra: NEA

SINGAPORE — A day after cautioning that prevailing winds could bring haze from Indonesia to Singapore, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said rain is expected over central and southern Sumatra over the next few days, and the likelihood of Singapore being affected by transboundary haze is low. 

A total of eight hotspots were detected in southern Sumatra on Monday (Sept 12). The low hotspot count was due to a partial satellite pass, when the orbiting satellite’s field of view covers just part of a region of interest, the NEA said. There was no visible smoke observed in the vicinity of the hotspots.

A day earlier, 28 hotspots were detected in Sumatra.

Monday saw thundery showers over many parts of Singapore, and air quality was in the good to moderate range. As of 6pm on Monday, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings were 36-55, in the moderate range. The one-hour PM2.5 concentration readings were 8 to 15 micrograms per cubic metre, in the normal band.

The NEA said air quality was likely to remain unchanged on Tuesday. Thundery showers are expected in the late morning and early afternoon.

“For the next few days, the prevailing winds are forecast to continue blowing from the south or south-west. Showers are expected over central and southern Sumatra. The likelihood of Singapore being affected by transboundary haze is low,” the NEA said.